Tree matters

the long version

The Bhil people of central India are amongst the country's oldest indigenous communities. They have an intimate yet playful relationship with the natural world of animals, plants, trees and forests. All of them are part of their everyday environment. Gangu Bai, Bhil artist, brings this connection alive through a set of joyful paintings in her traditional style, based on her memories of growing up with trees. Her tales range from food, work and festivals to illness and childbirth. Her ecological wisdom is lightly held, yet it offers a profound lesson in sustainable everyday living.